J.C. Somers Vintner 2020 Chardonnay, Corrine Vineyard, Chehalem Mountains

Winemaker Notes: "I love Chardonnay and have been producing it since 2000 and I am so thrilled that it has made a comeback especially here in the Willamette Valley. For many years most Chardonnay made here was not super exciting, falsely blamed on the wrong clonal selection, the real reason for the renaissance is the fact that we became much better winemakers and winegrowers. The dijon clones of Chardonnay are fantastic but so are the old clones 108, Draper and Wente, you just have to farm them correctly, just ask Cameron's John Paul about this subject." - Jay Somers

Vineyard Notes: Corrine Vineyard (formerly known as Olenik vineyard) is adjacent to the famed Lia's Vineyard at 300-450 feet elevation. Originally planted in the late 1980s by the owners of Rex Hill, it is now owned by Cooper Mountain. The farming is being converted to organics and biodynamics. The vineyard is dry farmed. It has multiple soil personalities--volcanic clay to alluvial. Jay Somers works with 1 acre of the Dijon clones of Chardonnay.

Winemaking Notes: Fermentation occurred in 600-liter French oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation was blocked to produce a Chardonnay with more focused acidity.